SOUTH HAVEN AND CASCO POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 367 



iiig grapes that were troubled with mildew and rot. and tliat it was ju.st the 

 thing. 



A trade-mark was adopted for the use of a fruitgrowers' exchange, 

 when organized, which consisted of n guarantee of uniformity throughout 

 the package, signed by the shipper; and underneath a pair of balances, 

 in one of which is printed "good fruit," and in the other "fair prices," the 

 whole neatly headed by the name of the exchange and the word "trade- 

 mark." 



The meeting of the West Michigan Fruitgowers' society on the 

 5th to 7th of June, was well attended and profitable, as it seemed to draw 

 public attention to what the local society was doing for the interests of the 

 fruit belt. 



The first of the out-door meetings of the society was held Aug. 5, in 

 the little nook, "Sleepy Hollow," at the home of Joshua Smith. But it 

 was anything but sleepy, in attendance or interest. After an interesting- 

 comparison of ways and means to get the most profit out of fruit. Prof. 

 Erwin Smith of the U. S. agricultural department, who had been for three 

 years studying peach yellows, both east and west, gave a resume of the 

 history of yellows, })ronouncing it an infectious disease, a fact which seems 

 to be doubted in the east, while we think we know it is here. He said the 

 ■department was pushing for a solution and trying to find a remedy. It is 

 a perplexing problem, and the only cure for it at present is the axe; the 

 disease obeys no known law, but comes and goes at its own sweet will; it 

 takes or omits trees without regard to age, situation, or previous condition; 

 and of all the theories advanced, each is met by some stern fact that dis- 

 proves it, so that after studying it for ten years, we are just as wise about 

 it as when we commenced. 



At the next out-door meeting, Aug. 10, at the farm of John Mackey, which 

 was a very interesting one, there was given the experience of members in 

 spraying the apple, plum, peach, pear, cherry, and the small fruits; then, 

 on " How to Prepare Orchards for Winter," Clark Shaffer gave an experi- 

 ence of two years among the orchards of California, and the Rev. Mr. 

 Rood, a missionary among the Zulus of south Africa, a grajDhie account of 

 soil, climate, and fruits of that tropical region; after which the subject of 

 the society's making an exhibit at the Detroit exposition, under the control 

 •of the State Horticultural society, was brought up and a committee was 

 appointed to take the matter in charge, the members freely contributing of 

 the fruit needed. Messrs. Shetfer and Payne made the collections, and 

 after a pretty sharp contest with other counties of the state, some 3,50() 

 plates of fruit being exhibited, took the first pi-emium on market collection 

 and second on general collection. President Laniiin made an exhibit for 

 the society at the state fair at Lansing, of twenty varieties of pear, taking 

 first and second premiums; and also at Grand Rapids, taking first and 

 second premiums, so that the society can congratulate itself on the close of 

 a successful and prosperous vear. 



Wm. H. Payne, 



Scci'cidri/. 



